Discover how Michigan’s innovative PATH program, conducted by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, is transforming lives. Over 8,000 Michiganders benefited in 2023, witnessing an average wage increase of $2,000 per year. Learn how this collaborative effort between MDHHS and LEO is shaping a brighter economic future.
Michigan’s PATH Program: Bridging the Gap to Prosperity
In December 2021, Immanual Jackson found himself as the main provider for his twin boys when his wife couldn’t work. As a full-time medical student in Michigan, juggling responsibilities was challenging. Seeking assistance, Immanual and his wife turned to the Partnership.Accountability.Training.Hope. (PATH) program, a collaborative effort of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO).
Michigan’s Roadmap to Prosperity: Navigating Higher Wages with the PATH Initiative
PATH is designed to empower Michiganders by offering work activities, job training, and employability skills, aiding participants in achieving self-sufficiency and higher wages. Immanuel, with his limited free time, found the program accommodating as Michigan Works! Staff provided virtual services and even delivered supplies to his home.
Apart from job training, Immanuel received community resources for his newborns and assistance in covering costs for necessary supplies. The PATH program addresses barriers such as transportation, job search skills, work clothes, and childcare. Participants completing the program, on average, earn $2,000 more annually than their peers.
Susan Corbin, LEO Director, highlighted the collaborative efforts between MDHHS and LEO, ensuring comprehensive support for PATH participants. MDHHS focuses on health and wellbeing, while LEO equips participants with job readiness skills. The collaboration aims to guide Michiganders toward promising careers, contributing to a prosperous future.
During fiscal year 2023, PATH provided training and support to over 8,000 individuals across Michigan, with more than half transitioning out of public assistance programs to start new careers. Stephanie Beckhorn, Director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training, emphasized the personalized approach of programs like PATH, addressing individual obstacles.
The success stories continue, with Immanuel receiving financial assistance for his medical board exam. A graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, Immanuel is now a resident physician of internal medicine at University of Michigan Health-West.
To access PATH program services, visit your local Michigan Works! Service Center at MichiganWorks. Explore more about the program at Michigan.gov/PATH, and witness how Michigan is shaping a prosperous future for its residents.